The Bills also released CB Marcus Sayles from their practice squad, according to Mike Rodak.

Thornton, 29, signed on with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Arkansas back in 2011. He returned to Philadelphia on a one-year restricted contract back in 2015 and signed with the Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent.

He was entering the second year of a four-year, $18 million contract that contained $9 million guaranteed and was set to make a base salary of $3 million this season when the Cowboys cut him loose this past weekend.

In 2016, Thornton appeared in 13 games for the Cowboys and recorded 22 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one pass defense, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.